We lost the Game At the Line

[return2glory]

He went to the FT line 18 times compared to 33 times by the Hawks. We were outscored 29-10 at the line. That's a 19 point difference and that was the main difference of the game. We commited too many stupid fouls and weren't aggressive on offense.

It goes to show that we are a soft team and relies to much on jumpers. This is playoff time. Pierce needs to go to the line about 10-12 times a play. Everyone needs to be more aggressive and force the refs into calling fouls.

For the series, we have gone to the line 93 times compared to 128 for the Hawks. That's 23.25 vs 32 timse per game in favor on the Hawks.

[Relative Autonomy]

maybe it had something to do with the refs. that first foul on KG was a ticky-tack as it gets. we seem to forget that the nba is a business. every year the playoffs get longer. last year it was exposed that refs were invovled in throwing games for betting. how much of a difference is it to manipulate game drag out the series to make more cash?

[cisco]

It was a combination of not getting to the line and not defending Johnson in the 4th quarter. Regardless of the free throw discrepancy, the Celtics has a 10 pt lead in the 4th until Johnson took over and noone defended him.

[theman]

Championship teams don't miss 44% of their free throws.

[stretch]

the game was lost by the C's on the defensive end

We have had a lot of games in the regular season shooting just as poorly from the line.

what happened to that Celtic defense that could hold ANY team (no matter how hot or athletic) to below 90 points?

The Celtics played down to Atlanta. If they pretended to be playing the Pistons or Spurs or Lakers in their minds, you can bet that Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson would never have gotten to touch that basketball during the fourth quarter.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Championship teams don't miss 44% of their free throws.

Exactly right. If the C's make the same % of their FTs as the Hawks, they win the game. Simple as that.

Pierce was horrendous last night!